Case Number 27133: Small Claims Court

CALIFORNICATION: THE SIXTH SEASON

The Charge

"Worst intervention ever." -- Hank Moody

The Case

Science fiction and more progressive strains of rock 'n' roll have a long
history of collusion and mutual influence. Harder rock, though, has had less
truck with more literary material. Except, that is, for Californication.
Its hero, Hank Moody, has aspired to a two-fisted love of both American literary
heavyweights and the hard-rock lifestyle. Although Hank Moody's life as a writer
has brought him into more contact with the world of Hollywood, his most
successful encounters have been with the world of rock. That's what buoyed
Season Two of Californication . With Californication: The Sixth
Season, Hank returns to that world for the best season of the show since
that fabled season. Given that Season Seven has been announced as the show's
last, it's nice to see it get its legs again after so many years.

Hank Moody's (David Duchovny, The X-Files) life is in a decent place
after Season Five ended with his suicide scare, but nothing is ever perfect for
the partying writer. This season revolves around Moody's collaboration with
coked-up rock star Atticus Fetch (singer/songwriter Tim Minchin). Fetch wants to
make a stage show: Moody does the writing, Fetch does the music. However, his
crazy lifestyle will embroil Hank in more shenanigans, especially when gorgeous
groupie/muse Faith (Maggie Grace, Taken) decides to make Hank her next
project.

I enjoyed Season Five, but it felt like the show was running out of steam.
As much as I love the RZA and his character Samurai Apocalypse, Hank Moody just
doesn't fit into the hip-hop world quite as easily as he does the world of
hard-drinkin' and hard-partyin' rock 'n' rollers. This season returns Hank to
that world he knows best, that of jet-setting rock star Atticus Fetch. Combining
that with the introduction of Faith, a fellow devotee of the rock 'n' roll
lifestyle. Atticus helps to give Hank's wild side a bit of a goose, while Faith
acts as the creative muse he needs personally and professionally. Together
(combined with the scary ending of the previous season), they help catalyze what
might be an actual change for Hank. Though he's been the lovable rascal who
can't or won't change for several seasons, this time he seems to be putting
things into a different perspective. The whole season sets up the possibility of
a satisfying ending for Season Seven.

Beyond their characters, both Maggie Grace and Tim Minchin bring much-needed
energy to the continuing escapades of Moody and his extended family and support
system. Grace plays the free-spirit rocker-chick with gravity and sex appeal,
differentiating herself strongly from most of the women that Hank has been
intermittently involved in over the last several years. She knows what she wants
out of Hank and makes no bones about it. Tim Minchin, though, is unhinged as
Atticus Fetch. Minchin's stage persona is a bit wild, with outsized hair and
makeup, but the really goes for it here. He's constantly shirtless in leather
pants, playing up the coke-and-booze lifestyle of the rocker. His musical
performances make it obvious that his day job is as a performer.

The other stories that revolve around Hank are compelling this time out as
well. Runkle and Marcia are still circling, Karen and Becca are still trying to
sort out their lives around Hank's, and all of these stories intersect in ways
that move the show forward.

I still wish Californication could get a three-disc release instead
of cramming all the episodes onto two discs (or, heavens forfend, an HD
release), but these 1.78:1 anamorphic transfers look okay. The image is
generally detailed and bright, with good black levels and less in the way of
artefacting compared to previous seasons. The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks are
fine as well, with clear dialogue and minimal directionality. Extras this time
out consist of two episodes of Ray Donovan.

Of course Hank is still a prick, and he still drinks too much and has too
much casual sex. This season is slightly more blasphemous than previous seasons.
Now we not only have a scenes of Hank talking dirty in a church, we get a
talking Jesus (also played by Tim Minchin), who isn't quite like the one people
learn about in Sunday School.

Californication: The Sixth Season returns Hank Moody to the world of
rock 'n' roll, and with good results. We're actually seeing changes in Moody's
character, and though his life may not be perfect, this seasons sets up the
possibility for a real corker of a final season. Fans might gripe about the
continued two-disc, few extras release pattern, but overall, this is the best
set of episodes since Season Two.